Willie D's Birthday Party

The world now views Houston as a hip-hop hotbed, and rightly so as UGK, Devin the Dude, Chamillionaire, Trae, Paul Wall and numerous others dominate album sales and radio waves here and abroad. None of them would be anywhere, as they all freely admit, if Scarface, Bushwick Bill and Willie D, better known as the Geto Boys, hadn't gotten there first. The ­platinum-selling group that put Houston on the hip-hop map has never been forgotten. So since Willie D decided to throw himself a 41st-birthday party, expect legions of fans and a who's who of the rap game to come pay their respects. Willie and the Geto Boys are equally (well, almost) as beloved in Atlanta, hometown of tonight's headliners, "Salt Shaker" authors and Britney Spears collaborators the Ying Yang Twins. Don't be shocked at a "surprise performance" or two, either — with a guest list including Bun B, Paul Wall and Lil Keke, among others, it seems Willie might have a trick or two up his sleeve he has yet to divulge. Even if that doesn't mean an impromptu Geto Boys reunion, it's still a nice dream, and a helluva party either way.